Guten Tag! Marburg’s 50th Reunion
David Eichelberger, Dr. Leroy Hopkins ’66 and Bill Aust ’65. Hopkins, a foreign language professor at Millersville, has been affiliated for more than 40 years with the Marburg Program as a student and a program director.
Below: Dr. Richard Beam, founder of the Marburg Program, received a standing ovation in tribute to his outstanding accomplishments. His wife Dorothy (far left) is also a scholar and contributed to the success of the program.
No matter what year they went to Marburg Study Abroad Program, the same love and fondness for the program seemed to be shared by more than 100 people who attended the reunion on April 19-20 at Millersville’s campus. John Snyder ’73, Donna Kraus Shearer ’78, Fred Oppenheimer (former Perhaps being foreigners in program director), Tobias Schoenwandt ’77 and Gary Benner ’78. a strange country helped them to forge a bond that has, in some cases, endured for 50 years. Dr. Richard Beam, director of Millersville’s Center for Pennsylvania German Studies, established the Marburg Program in 1963 under a directive from the Commonwealth to begin study abroad programs at the state teacher colleges. He had studied in Marburg himself, so it was a natural choice for him. The program was open to students from all colleges across the United States. Of the approximately 700 students who have participated in the Marburg Program, more than half are from colleges other than Millersville. Studying in Marburg was a “pivotal year,” said John Snyder ’73. The sentiment was shared by many guests with regard to the blessing of the friendships made and the lifechanging opportunity to see the world through different eyes. During Kaffee and Kuchen on Saturday, reunion attendees conducted a Skype session with Millersville junior Brandon Mountain, who is currently studying in Marburg and is the first recipient of the Marburg Scholarship Fund. The scholarship was established by Terry Long ’73, who studied in Marburg in 1971-72. A celebration dinner Saturday evening capped off the reunion events and included presentations to the former program directors in attendance. Jeanne Kendig Moore ’65, a member of the first group to travel to Marburg in 1963, penned “An Ode to Marburg.” Among the excerpts from her ode were: “Marburg, our home away from home. Becoming changed lives in Marburg’s enticing history of time. Germany captivated our hearts and souls.” With the Marburg Study Abroad Program, students study for a year at Philipps-Universität Marburg. As part of the immersion experience, all courses are taught in German, and students participate in excursions to places of cultural and historic interest. Mach’s gut!
Michelle Bittner Opdyke ’87, Mary Lengner Kramer ’93, Kris Lovgren Wilson and Amy Walker Gorham ’85.
38 Alumni Interest Spring-Summer 2013
Janice Mitchell and Friedlinde Ebersole ’66.